Schemes in the Depths

Outskirts of Argo City, Atlantic Ocean Seabed

Internal artwork from Ocean Master: Year of the Villain #1 (Dec. 2019). © and TM DC. Written by Dan Watters. Art by Miguel Mendonca.

Orm of Atlantis smirked as he watched a number of robots working tirelessly to restore power systems within the sunken Kryptonian city.  Behind him, several men clad in black waited for action.

“I believe I shall have to… acquire some of those machines,” he said over his shoulder to his dangerous allies. “They will spare a great number of Atlanteans from the toil of menial labor. In that, they shall be potent tools for winning the hearts and minds of my subjects.”

Behind the Atlantean noble, the figure of Black Manta floated in the dark waters, surrounded by his deadliest mercenaries. “Knock yourself out, Ocean Master,” he said, his mechanically altered voice laden with contempt. “As long as our agreement holds in place, you can steal all the robots you want.”

Internal artwork from Aquaman #12 (Aug. 2012). © and TM DC. Written by Geoff Johns. Art by Ivan Reis.

“Of course,” Orm replied. “The rightful heir of Atlantis is a man of his word… see to it that you hold to yours as well. It would be a shame if my brother learned of your presence here in these waters.”

“Bring him on,” Manta replied. “Aquaman’s made my life hell many times, and I’m looking forward to settling accounts with him - for good.”

“A task easier said than done, as we both know too well,” said Orm. “But enough of this posturing – let us make our way into these ruins and claim the prizes that await.”

“Very well,” the voice of Black Manta droned. “If what your scouts say is true, there are a lot of advanced weapons in there – weapons strong enough to kill a Kryptonian.”

“And surely, such weapons will be more than a match for my poor, doomed brother,” Orm replied, smiling. And myself as well, he thought, well aware of the villain’s treacherous nature.  I shall have to ensure that they never fall into human hands, lest this ‘Black Manta’ decides to rid Atlantis of all her rulers. 

Orm led Black Manta and his forces quietly into the ruins of Argo. Apart from the work of the robots, there was no activity on the streets. Still, he knew that an alien had taken up residence within the city – a member of the fear-powered Sinestro Corps. Such a foe could be a threat in battle, true… but they would also be at a great disadvantage here at the bottom of the ocean. There, a force of undersea warriors would hold the advantage. Despite their human origins, Black Manta and his troops were quite formidable in combat beneath the waves… and Orm suffered only one rival in such conflicts - King Arthur, the so-called Aquaman, usurper of the throne that he felt was rightfully his by birthright. That throne would soon be his, Orm thought, if the city’s hidden treasures were his to possess. He briefly consulted a scanner to verify the coordinates provided by his loyal scouts – they had located an arsenal, untouched despite the destruction of Krypton and the crash that led to the devastated city to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in the past. Here, Orm thought, my crusade to reclaim the throne may begin anew. “We’ve arrived,” Orm said quietly to Manta. “Deploy your men.”

Internal artwork from Ocean Master: Year of the Villain #1 (Dec. 2019). © and TM DC. Written by Dan Watters. Art by Miguel Mendonca.

Behind Orm, Black Manta used hand signals to silently order his men to take up defensive positions. Once they were in place, he joined Orm in entering the arsenal, eager to claim the potent alien weaponry within for his own. The two men swam quietly, wary for threats from Kryptonian robots – and each other. Their alliance of convenience was a fragile thing, and neither believed the other incapable of betrayal. 

It wasn’t long before they found the weapons Manta was keen to wield. Behind his menacing helmet, the human warrior smiled. “Yes… these will do,” he said. “These will do nicely.”

“There’s more to be done,” Orm replied. “The research facility lies nearby. Therein lies a vast store of the lost knowledge of Krypton, and as you humans are fond of saying, knowledge… is power.”

“Let’s get to it, then,” Black Manta said. “The less time we spend in this alien tomb, the better. Only a matter of time before former residents of Krypton decide to drop in, and they’ll make your brother look like a toddler waving a trident around.”

“Indeed,” Orm said, amused at the thought of a tiny Arthur flailing helplessly in battle.  “Follow me.”

Within the research facility, Orm worked diligently at a command console while Black Manta and his men watched for trouble. “How fortunate – the robots we saw earlier have restored power to this area of the city,” Orm said with a smile. “It shall make extracting the secrets of Krypton that much easier.”

“Work fast,” Black Manta said. “Those robots work for that alien you mentioned. If they catch us… let’s just say I don’t relish the idea of conflict with the Sinestro Corps – especially their namesake. That alien might be a scout of his.”

“Ever the wary soldier,” Orm replied as he worked at the console. “Try not to jump at any shadows – one wrong move and the potential threat you fear may become an unpleasant reality.”

Before Manta could reply, a nearby door shattered in a violent burst of red plasma. Manta’s troops brought their weapons to bear in an instant and sent a barrage of energy bolts into the breach in response.

Internal artwork from Aquaman #12 (Aug. 2012). © and TM DC. Written by Geoff Johns. Art by Ivan Reis.

It was not effective. Two powerful figures wreathed in crimson energy floated effortlessly into the chamber – one a large, powerfully-built humanoid, the other… a small, hissing animal.

“Is that -?” Black Manta said to Orm as they rushed into combat
 
“It is,” Orm replied. “Atrocitus.”
 
“Knew that. I was talking about the cat!”

“Enough babble, human,” Orm cried. “To arms! To battle!”

They fought bravely, but in the end, their power and skill in battle were not enough to withstand the rage-fuelled might of two Red Lanterns.

When Orm returned to consciousness, he found himself trapped in a pod of alien design. His struggles to free himself were in vain, as were those of his human ally, trapped in a pod across from him. The dimly-lit room was soon filled with golden light, as a menacing woman with four arms descended before them – a glowing yellow Power Ring upon one of her fingers.

Cover artwork from Green Lantern Corps #32 (Jan. 2009). © and TM DC. Art by Patrick Gleason.

“Such curious interlopers,” the alien woman known as Kryb said. “An Atlantean… and a human thief. Normally, I would dispatch you for your actions. You would die screaming, as the power of Fear crushed your hearts. Fortunately for you… I have need of undersea minions.”

“I serve no ruler but myself,” Orm replied, defiant. “You will rue the day you made an enemy of the Ocean Master!”

Kryb sneered in response as she keyed a sequence into a nearby console. A moment later, the pods containing Orm and Manta began to fill with a vile, potent fluid. Choking, they valiantly tried to resist the invasive nature of the liquid, to no avail. They felt their minds slipping away… becoming hers.

“Correction,” Kryb said to the enthralled intruders. “You serve no mistress… but KRYB!” 

The chamber filled with her terrifying laughter as Kryb regaled in her latest triumph. These men would be quite useful, indeed. Two more guard dogs to protect her while she completed her work within Argo City… two more to live and die for her glory.